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For 10 years, Ronald Zebell, better known as Zeb Bell, has broadcast his AM talk radio program “Zeb at the Ranch” from Rupert across the Magic Valley. In response to what they call Bell’s “ongoing bigotry targeting numerous groups including Hispanics, gay people, blacks, Native Americans, women, and Muslims,” these two blogs, the MountainGoat Report and the Political Game, are methodically documenting Bell’s slurs. While bloggers debate how to get Bell off the airwaves, Bell hopes for legislation to take bloggers off the Internet. Bell adamantly denies that he broadcasts hate speech/Mathias Morache, Boise Weekly. More here. And: MountainGoat Report here.
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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BlueinIdaho on March 11 at 3:45 p.m.
Pure hate speech. Not surprising he doesn’t recognize it for what it is….typically bigots and racists don’t.
DFO on March 11 at 3:49 p.m.
I hope you Berry Pickers notice who penned that drawing of Zeb Bell that illustrates the Boise Weekly article — none other than former HBO regular Noah Kroese.
Sisyphus on March 11 at 4:40 p.m.
Thanks for the prominence on this issue Dave. You use her picture but you don’t link up to Mountain Goat Report. You oughta. She impeached Zeb quite successfully today, not that he had any credibility. Check it out.
http://mountaingoatreport.typepad.com/the_mountaingoat_report/2009/03/who-you-gonna-believe-.html
Its sad that Zeb’s now trying to run away from his own record. And thanks to MGR and Tara, he can’t.
DFO on March 11 at 4:49 p.m.
Sisyphus; I just added the link to the MountainGoat Report post out front. Thanks.
Sisyphus on March 11 at 5:09 p.m.
NO, thank you. Its appreciated.
hhuseland on March 11 at 7:52 p.m.
I have mixed feelings about this issue. First, specializing in hate speech without any apparent “socially redeeming qualities,” is abhorent. I also recognize that there may be a different set of rules for am broadcasting and individual expression, though I claim ignorance as to what those differences might be.
I have for the most part, believed in the unfettered law of freedom of speech. The exception being the “Yelling fire in a crowded theater.”
I suspect that as radio is a supply and demand media, that this jerk probably has very few listeners. Those that would do so would probably be regulars that believe in the same hate stuff that the broadcaster does. I suggest that rather than trying to contain or supplant him, he be simply ignored. A few liberal blogs are probably as hateful to those on the right.
So, bottom line, lets uphold the right to freedom of speech and use the marketplace to determine the listeners.
Nick_Adams on March 11 at 10:26 p.m.
Herb: You can’t just hide your head under the pillow and “hope” that hate goes away. It has never. ever. worked. Hate must be confronted and brought into the daylight.
As to the power of your precious marketplace. It’s the last place to rely on. The radio station that’s carrying this sewage is probably just squeaking by or losing some money. Most of the advertisers are on the show because they get extra spots in rotation as a bonus for their buy on other, more popular programming. And, given the state of radio advertising right now, it may be that only a few dollars a month are directly attributed to Zeb.
I’m not sure of the ownership structure of the station. It could be a locally owned operation that doesn’t really care how much money they make because it gives them an outlet to sell time to their buddies in car sales, co-ops or small grocery/convenience stores. Or, it could be part of a larger regional ownership group who sees it as an outlet, value-added offering for their clients who cater to rural areas.
This radio station could go to a nationally syndicated show and not show much—if any—of a net loss, but they choose to carry it and earn a couple of bucks because they know that the tiny listenership will inundate the station with calls and it’s just not worth the trouble. After all, this is A.M. radio in Rupert. Not really a breeding ground for thoughtful political discourse.
cantyoureadthesigns on March 11 at 11:32 p.m.
Well I hope he goes the way of Stokes in Kalispel, gets legimately sued and judged, and loses everything in bankruptcy.
I never liked Les Schwab much to begin with, had very little trade with them over the years, but due to their support of this radio bigot, I’ll never trade there, and will recommend same to everyone I know, don’t shop at Les Schwab Tire, unless you like supporting bigots.
Sisyphus on March 12 at 7:38 a.m.
“A few liberal blogs are probably as hateful to those on the right.”—really Herb, do you have something to back this up or does your uninformed speculation get a pass. Certainly the place I blog takes on the intolerant head on but we don’t punish a blameless discrete and insular minority like Zeb does on a daily basis. I reckon you sat on your hands when the Aryan Nations was confronted in North Idaho? And you use exactly the same misguided defense of Zeb’s hate speech that he does, its ok cause its protected by the first amendment. The first amendment does not shield Bell from being a bigot.